Cast:
Me: 39 (but not much longer)
DW: Already passed that particular milestone
DD: 8 going on 15
Started at 4 p.m. Friday, DD and I meeting DW at train station as shed come straight from work. Arrived Birmingham Airport Novotel at 5.30ish and after freshening up headed over to Terminal 1 for tea which turned out not so well. Sharing starter platter was great but the steak in my mixed grill and DWs steak ciabatta were both inedible. We mentioned this to the waitress who gave us a discount but we passed on dessert and instead got some cookies from Miss Millie and a couple of mini bottles of wine from Spar for a Hotel room dessert picnic. Turned in early to try to get some sleep before early start. Unfortunately the steak got its revenge and DW was up ill in the night. Luckily it just seemed to be irritation rather than infection so was feeling just about OK by morning.
Up at 4.30 and headed over to security for 5.30. Wed checked in online and only had hand luggage (you can get some great cases now that come in within the standard 50cm x 35 cm x 23cm hand luggage maximum we got ours from Tesco), so no lines straight through and on for a coffee at Wetherspoons. 6.25 flight slightly delayed meaning we got to CDG 9.45ish French time rather than 9.05. RS driver was waiting for us and we were at DLH by 10.30.
Never arrived by road before, always from the train. Porter met our taxi, took our bags to be delivered to our room when it was ready. At reception we were taken up to the 3rd floor castle club reception, which has its own desk and told all about Castle Club. We were given a temporary card for the private lift until our room was ready and headed out into Disneyland Park. Our first experience of the private lift that takes you to the turnstiles was very cool.
Weather was sunny and hot, and that first entrance into Main Street was as great as ever. We grabbed a Mickey chocolate filled brioche to get some sugar, and bottles of water at the Main Street bakery and headed for BTM. DW had thought she might sit this first time out given the previous night but was feeling ok enough to come on. Of course, the VIP fastpass meant no queue to speak of. Wed forgotten how good BTM was wed been to Alton Towers a few weeks ago and Runaway Mine Train doesnt compare. After BTM it was PoC, a bit of queue, maybe 30 minutes, the park was quite busy but not as busy as we have seen it. After PoC through to Fantasyland and Peter Pan. We thought wed go to Its a Small world next but the queue was long and we were quite hot and tired now so thought wed get some lunch. Decided we would try Rendezvous des Stars as wed wanted to see the Ratatouille theming so headed for WDS via the Dragons lair.
In WDS we got our first view of the Tower of Terror and Hollywood Boulevard which looks really good as youre approaching it. The Studios really feels more together now. Wed always liked it as a different experience but it was obviously much more popular now. Rendezvous des Stars had a good buffet choice. I went for the alcohol option for an extra 2E and had a beer whereas the others got a soft drink included. There was a good selection of cold meats etc. and salads for starters and then about 5 or 6 hot dishes including of course Ratatouille. We finished off with a wide choice of desserts. We debated what to do next, and as it was 2.15, we were quite weary we thought we might try and see if our room was ready to have a recharge as we wanted to make the most of this short trip and keep going until as late as we could into the night.
Our room was ready, on the fourth floor just to the left of the train station with a great view of the park. After half an hour or so chilling out, DD and I got ready for a swim and DW decided to have a snooze. A swim was just what we needed by way of revitalisation. The DLH pool is great in summer with the doors open, loungers in the garden along with garden games, badminton etc.
We headed back out after a shower at about 4.40 and got a good spot at the train station end of Main Street to watch the parade, DD got to the front to sit on the kerb. We really liked this parade, most of the floats were new to us and liked the fact that many were essentially made of two halves with one set of characters on the front and another on the back eg Lion King / Jungle Book.
After the parade it was on to the only land we hadnt visited yet Discoveryland. Once again VIP Fastpasses were a godsend although dont think Fastpass works as well on Buzz as some rides. DWs sleep obviously had done her good as she whooped us. After Buzz over to Space Mountain this is the first time DD had been tall enough and hence Id never been on it either. DW sat out as BTM is really her limit and flashing lights dont do it for her. Fastpass works really well on SM and we were quickly at loading. I was a bit apprehensive as Im not an all out thrill seeker I couldnt really see myself going on Nemesis at Alton Towers for instance. However, I wonder if Im getting more into roller coasters as I get older as I thought this was a brilliant ride more smooth and floaty than violent and the lighting is superb. DD was OK but I think as she was only just tall enough, she banged her head on the restraint a bit possibly something to bear in mind with children (shes 1.38 the min is 1.32).
After SM it was time to go and change for our 7 pm reservation at Inventions they were turning away people who hadnt booked. The food here was as good as ever it really is our fave restaurant. We started with a half bottle of Tattinger between us and then I had a half bottle of red. Saw a fair few characters and then unbeknown to me DW and DD had ordered a birthday cake, so out it came brought by the staff and Goofy with everyone singing, not sure whether I was more pleased or embarrassed, but it was certainly a unique birthday dinner, even if my birthday proper wasnt until the next day.
Of course, with it being 10 pm close we could head out again after dinner. The park was a bit quieter and Id expected only a selection of attractions to be open, but it seemed as if everything was still going. We decided to try again for IASW and it was a walk-on. After that DD had a go on the Carousel, and we noticed that two rides wed never been on due to long queues seemed to be walk-ons too: Pinnochio and Snow White. We got on Snow White just before they closed the queue at about 10.10 and with it being the longest day, it was only just getting dusky. These two rides were OK, and glad weve eventually had a go, but theyre quite similar rides just with different stories.
We walked lazily back to DLH paying another visit to the dragon and soaking in the atmosphere. Although it was gone 10.30, things were only just starting to close down. We used our exclusive lift to whisk us up to Fantasia lounge for a nice cold seize soixante quatre for me, Pimms for DW and a kiddie cocktail to add to our collection of DLH shakers for DD. After listening to the piano for a bit we fell into bed and were asleep straight away.
Me: 39 (but not much longer)
DW: Already passed that particular milestone
DD: 8 going on 15
Started at 4 p.m. Friday, DD and I meeting DW at train station as shed come straight from work. Arrived Birmingham Airport Novotel at 5.30ish and after freshening up headed over to Terminal 1 for tea which turned out not so well. Sharing starter platter was great but the steak in my mixed grill and DWs steak ciabatta were both inedible. We mentioned this to the waitress who gave us a discount but we passed on dessert and instead got some cookies from Miss Millie and a couple of mini bottles of wine from Spar for a Hotel room dessert picnic. Turned in early to try to get some sleep before early start. Unfortunately the steak got its revenge and DW was up ill in the night. Luckily it just seemed to be irritation rather than infection so was feeling just about OK by morning.
Up at 4.30 and headed over to security for 5.30. Wed checked in online and only had hand luggage (you can get some great cases now that come in within the standard 50cm x 35 cm x 23cm hand luggage maximum we got ours from Tesco), so no lines straight through and on for a coffee at Wetherspoons. 6.25 flight slightly delayed meaning we got to CDG 9.45ish French time rather than 9.05. RS driver was waiting for us and we were at DLH by 10.30.
Never arrived by road before, always from the train. Porter met our taxi, took our bags to be delivered to our room when it was ready. At reception we were taken up to the 3rd floor castle club reception, which has its own desk and told all about Castle Club. We were given a temporary card for the private lift until our room was ready and headed out into Disneyland Park. Our first experience of the private lift that takes you to the turnstiles was very cool.
Weather was sunny and hot, and that first entrance into Main Street was as great as ever. We grabbed a Mickey chocolate filled brioche to get some sugar, and bottles of water at the Main Street bakery and headed for BTM. DW had thought she might sit this first time out given the previous night but was feeling ok enough to come on. Of course, the VIP fastpass meant no queue to speak of. Wed forgotten how good BTM was wed been to Alton Towers a few weeks ago and Runaway Mine Train doesnt compare. After BTM it was PoC, a bit of queue, maybe 30 minutes, the park was quite busy but not as busy as we have seen it. After PoC through to Fantasyland and Peter Pan. We thought wed go to Its a Small world next but the queue was long and we were quite hot and tired now so thought wed get some lunch. Decided we would try Rendezvous des Stars as wed wanted to see the Ratatouille theming so headed for WDS via the Dragons lair.
In WDS we got our first view of the Tower of Terror and Hollywood Boulevard which looks really good as youre approaching it. The Studios really feels more together now. Wed always liked it as a different experience but it was obviously much more popular now. Rendezvous des Stars had a good buffet choice. I went for the alcohol option for an extra 2E and had a beer whereas the others got a soft drink included. There was a good selection of cold meats etc. and salads for starters and then about 5 or 6 hot dishes including of course Ratatouille. We finished off with a wide choice of desserts. We debated what to do next, and as it was 2.15, we were quite weary we thought we might try and see if our room was ready to have a recharge as we wanted to make the most of this short trip and keep going until as late as we could into the night.
Our room was ready, on the fourth floor just to the left of the train station with a great view of the park. After half an hour or so chilling out, DD and I got ready for a swim and DW decided to have a snooze. A swim was just what we needed by way of revitalisation. The DLH pool is great in summer with the doors open, loungers in the garden along with garden games, badminton etc.
We headed back out after a shower at about 4.40 and got a good spot at the train station end of Main Street to watch the parade, DD got to the front to sit on the kerb. We really liked this parade, most of the floats were new to us and liked the fact that many were essentially made of two halves with one set of characters on the front and another on the back eg Lion King / Jungle Book.
After the parade it was on to the only land we hadnt visited yet Discoveryland. Once again VIP Fastpasses were a godsend although dont think Fastpass works as well on Buzz as some rides. DWs sleep obviously had done her good as she whooped us. After Buzz over to Space Mountain this is the first time DD had been tall enough and hence Id never been on it either. DW sat out as BTM is really her limit and flashing lights dont do it for her. Fastpass works really well on SM and we were quickly at loading. I was a bit apprehensive as Im not an all out thrill seeker I couldnt really see myself going on Nemesis at Alton Towers for instance. However, I wonder if Im getting more into roller coasters as I get older as I thought this was a brilliant ride more smooth and floaty than violent and the lighting is superb. DD was OK but I think as she was only just tall enough, she banged her head on the restraint a bit possibly something to bear in mind with children (shes 1.38 the min is 1.32).
After SM it was time to go and change for our 7 pm reservation at Inventions they were turning away people who hadnt booked. The food here was as good as ever it really is our fave restaurant. We started with a half bottle of Tattinger between us and then I had a half bottle of red. Saw a fair few characters and then unbeknown to me DW and DD had ordered a birthday cake, so out it came brought by the staff and Goofy with everyone singing, not sure whether I was more pleased or embarrassed, but it was certainly a unique birthday dinner, even if my birthday proper wasnt until the next day.
Of course, with it being 10 pm close we could head out again after dinner. The park was a bit quieter and Id expected only a selection of attractions to be open, but it seemed as if everything was still going. We decided to try again for IASW and it was a walk-on. After that DD had a go on the Carousel, and we noticed that two rides wed never been on due to long queues seemed to be walk-ons too: Pinnochio and Snow White. We got on Snow White just before they closed the queue at about 10.10 and with it being the longest day, it was only just getting dusky. These two rides were OK, and glad weve eventually had a go, but theyre quite similar rides just with different stories.
We walked lazily back to DLH paying another visit to the dragon and soaking in the atmosphere. Although it was gone 10.30, things were only just starting to close down. We used our exclusive lift to whisk us up to Fantasia lounge for a nice cold seize soixante quatre for me, Pimms for DW and a kiddie cocktail to add to our collection of DLH shakers for DD. After listening to the piano for a bit we fell into bed and were asleep straight away.
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